Whether it's controlling your household lights, operating a smart lock, or rolling a digital die (try it yourself with "Hey Google, roll a die."), the Google Home has you covered. But what good is having control of household gadgets without the gadgets themselves? Here, we've gathered the best Google Home accessories money can buy so you can get the most out of your device.
Note: These products should also work with the Google Home Mini and Max, as well as the Nest Hub and Hub Max. Furthermore, these accessories should work with most 3rd party Google Assistant devices as well.
Best Google Home accessories:
Editor's note: We'll be updating this list of the best Google Home accessories regularly as new ones launch.
1. Google Chromecast
The best Google Home accessory is also a Google product: the Chromecast. You can choose between the regular model and its 4K counterpart, which is called Chromecast Ultra. If you own a Google Home and are looking for a low-cost way to improve another part of your home setup, a Chromecast is a must.
Read more: 15 best Chromecast apps for Android!
The Chromecast and Chromecast Ultra can be connected via HDMI to your TV to expand its functionality. This will allow you to search for movies, TV shows, and actors; browse and cast content from Chromecast-enabled apps like YouTube; play, pause, and change the volume of music you're streaming; and more, all with the power of your voice.
To make the most of this, you will probably want to subscribe to a service like Netflix, Spotify, YouTube Music or similar, though it's not essential.
2. Nest Thermostat E
Nest's smart thermostats are great because they learn from user behavior. I adjust the thermostat settings in my apartment several times per day as it warms up and cools down, but the Nest can help reduce this pattern with its intelligent algorithms. Monkey around with the Nest for a couple of weeks, changing its temperature settings periodically as you normally would, and it will become trained to recreate your preferences automatically.
And when it does need manual adjustment, you can do so with your voice and the Google Home. By pairing these devices you can ask Google to set your Nest to a specific temperature, raise it or lower by a certain number of degrees, as well as get it to confirm the current temperature in one of your rooms.
The Nest Thermostat E has a plastic body rather than the larger, more premium-feeling metal body of the regular Nest learning thermostat. Its screen also isn't as impressive — it doesn't display as much information and it's harder to see than the main model with its Farsight system. What's more, it isn't compatible with quite as many HVAC systems as the 3rd gen Nest model, and there are reports that it takes a little longer to learn your preferences.
All of that said, the majority of the functionality is still there in this cheaper, neater package, making it the ideal entry point for your smart thermostat life.
3. Philips Hue A19 white starter kit
For all your smart lighting needs, look no further than the Philips Hue bulbs. These come in white or colored versions and you can use them in conjunction with Google Home to turn your lights on and off — as you would expect — or manage the settings of individual lights.
You can give your bulbs names such as "living room" or "kitchen" and control them independently, including switching them on or off, brightening or dimming them, and setting the brightness to a specific percentage.
Read next: A beginners guide to smart bulbs
The Philips Hue A19 white starter kit we recommend comes with two white bulbs (which can't change color) and a hub for around $70 — possibly the best bang-for-buck you can get when starting out with these. The hub is required to operate these bulbs, but it doesn't necessarily have to be the Philips unit. Others, like Samsung's SmartThings hub, are also compatible.
You can get the more expensive Philips package, with colored bulbs, for around $130. With these, you can set the bulbs to any colors with the command "turn all the lights [color]." If you're just starting out and not sure if you'll take advantage of the multiple colors, I'd save $60 and stick with the white option, you can always add colored bulbs later.
For a lighting solution that works without a hub, check out the LIFX bulbs. Note that they're quite a bit more expensive to buy individually than the Philips bulbs but are still excellent Google Home accessories.
4. TP-Link HS100 smart plug
One of the easiest and most effective ways to control your home is with a smart plug like the TP-Link HS100. This Wi-Fi-based plug doesn't require an additional hub to operate and is compatible with the Google Home for operation.
Read next: The best smart plugs on the market
Like any good smart plug, the TP-Link HS100 can switch itself on or off using a schedule, and can be operated manually with your voice through the Google Home. The HS100 also has an "Away Mode," which will switch on your lights periodically when you're not home to make it look like someone is still around.
The TP-Link HS100 is a great starting point for smart plugs because you can start with one and add others later. These can be controlled individually or all together with help from TP-Links dedicated app called Kasa Smart.
The HS100 has similar features as comparable products like the Wemo Mini, but it's cheaper and has better reviews. At the time of writing, it has 4.3/5 stars out of roughly 16,000 reviews on Amazon, which is very impressive. The Kasa app itself also has 4.7/5 stars on Google Play after more than 40,000 reviews.
5. Samsung SmartThings V3 Hub
A smart hub can be used to connect the various electronic devices in your home together and give you control over them. Samsung's solution is compatible with a range of products, including those from Honeywell, Netgear, Halo, and Phillips, with more being added all the time.
Smart hubs are effectively the brains of your smart home operation and can control multiple products from different brands in one place. Though Samsung's SmartThings hub comes with its own Android app, you can also control it with your voice through the Google Home, giving you access to lights, security systems, thermostats, and more (so long as you have the compatible products).
Samsung's third-generation model has Wi-Fi access its predecessors lacked and is also a little smaller. This model doesn't have a battery, though, so if you power cuts you won't be able to use it. You can get it on Amazon for around $70.
6. August Smart Lock 3rd Gen
The August Smart Lock provides an additional form of access control that can help you if you ever lose your keys and find yourself locked out, or if you need to grant access for someone when you aren't there. Google Home Assistant makes this all the smarter, letting you unlock your August lock by just saying "Ok Google, unlock my door," or vice versa! Locking up at night never got easier, and you can even check the status by speaking with your assistant.
Pairing is easy, and once you get used to letting people in without getting up, you won't want to go back. That's why we think the August Smart Lock is one of the best Google Home accessories around.
7. iRobot Roomba i7 Robot Vacuum
In many ways, a robot vacuum represents the pinnacle of technology that can make your life simpler. Just relax while your little robot buddy keeps your floors free from dust and lint. We really like the Roomba devices from iRobot, which also happens to be among the best Google Home accessories. From the comfort of your sofa, you can instruct your Roomba to start vacuuming, stop vacuuming, return to the dock, clean a specific room, or help you find it.
8. Nest Cam Outdoor 2 Pack
It should come as no surprise to learn that all Nest products also work as Google Home accessories. The Nest Cam Outdoor shows a high definition view of your property outside the front door with up to 8x zoom. With the built in speaker and mic, you can converse with people who come to your door as well. And with "Nest Aware" you can look through old clips to see if you missed anything interesting.
Also read: What is Nest Aware? Price features and more
With voice commands, you can then tell Google Home to stream the view straight to your TV if you have it paired with a Chromecast. This is ideal when you combine it with the August Smart Lock, allowing you to see precisely who's at your door and then let them in, all through your Google Home.
These are the best Google Home accessories you can get in our opinion, although there are plenty of others to choose from as well. We'll update this post with new options once they are released.
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